Year: 2015

When you can have handmade ramen noodles, you can forget about the instant stuff that is like wilted cardboard in styrofoam cups. Why make your own when you can get instant noodles in a cup for less than a dollar? That’s because traditional handmade noodles have a beautiful texture that…

I’ve lost count how many times I’ve been down the Colorado River below Hoover Dam, but the trip is always a highlight and it never gets old. As in most of the downriver trips I’ve down, we launch from just below the dam and explore the sauna cave and surrounding…

Going to San Diego for Bill and Kathleen’s wedding gave us a chance to do some side excursions. I introduced Yan to the bamboo collection at Quail Botanical Gardens, now known as the San Diego Botanic Garden. The visit also took us to San Diego Zoo Safari Park. One of…

Loma Linda University’s affiliate, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, sent an administrative delegation to visit last week. Our family has hosted dinners for some of the groups that have visited from Hangzhou: making dumplings in the courtyard, Thanksgiving of 2007 and 2013, buffet dinner, and another administrative delegation dinner. On…

It’s early Sabbath morning, and I take off early for the mountains. The destination will be the North Cascades. The day before, I had researched the area, and it looks like one of the most accessible trails with the best views is the Hannegan Pass trail. So, this is the…

Brunch this morning is a family event, featuring made-from-scratch dishes. Much of this is experimentation, but it all turns out nicely. Spinach and mushroom crepes Asparagus and mixed greens salad Broccoli artichoke bacon frittata Blintzes with blueberry sauce

We had gone to Newport Beach earlier in the afternoon, where CLC Boats was having a wooden boat show in the back bay. Yan and I got to try out some handmade kayaks and rowboats. We brought a nice cold lunch as well: chilled soba with dipping sauce. The boats…

Ingredients: A bunch of green onions (12) Half pound vegetarian ham 8 eggs, beaten Salt and pepper Half cup Parmesan cheese The process: Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Cut up the green onions and ham. In a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, sautée until the scallions are reduced and the meat…

Yan brought back fresh figs, and we decide to make the most out of them. First, there are quartered figs with blue cheese and walnuts drizzled with honey. Then, there’s fig flatbread with more blue cheese and arugula. All this turned out so well.

This marks hundredth day since getting married to Yan. Each day has been special. To celebrate this milestone, we dressed in lavender and purple to match our wedding’s theme color and took some silly poses at Prospect Park. Yan didn’t realize what we were doing until I told her why…

The Huntington Library is holding its last summer evening concert event on the lawn. There are only a few times when the gardens are open beyond 4:30 pm, and this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the grounds around sunset. For lunch, we grilled some vegetables and made focaccia sandwiches…

The main purpose of this trip was to check out the summer Milky Way. I had gotten a wide angle lens, and this is the perfect opportunity to try it out. After having tea with friends this afternoon, we timed our arrival to Joshua Tree right at sunset. Surprisingly, even…

We wake up to warm dry conditions on the last day. The clouds have completely left, and everything except for the ground cloth is bone dry. Mark discovers that his tent has fallen apart, the plastic window in the rainfly detached from the vestibule’s awning. He sticks his head out like a turtle. It’s time for a new tent.

It is sometime in the early morning when I awaken. Peering outside, I see bright stars. The clouds have rolled back, and I figure it is safe to open up the rain fly. My shoes are still wet, but everything else stayed dry through the night of rain. I would later find out that it was not so with Brad and Grant, whose tent leaked with the incessant drip, drip, drip that soaked much of what was inside their tent. The morning is beautiful, though, with bright warm sunlight drying up the shoreline. Here, we dry out our gear.

I wake up to condensation along the head of the tent. The foot is also damp. With our fly completely closed and the temperature dipping to dew point, beads had formed along parts of the tent. I reach for the towel and mop up most of it. Our clothes on the line are dry though.

Into the Woods. That’s what this first stretch of trail reminds me of, and it reminds Yan of that same movie we watched in the plane while on our honeymoon. Lee Ridge Trailhead begins as a small inconspicuous orange flag trail marker a half mile south of Canada. I would have missed it had it not for Ms. Ranger’s directions. Stepping off Chief Mountain Highway through the border of brush alongside the road, the trail emerges. Little did we know that this trail would transport us to a trip that will challenge our gear and push their limits.

Backpacking gear normally lasts for years—the same sleeping bag, clothes, stove, backpack, and all the little miscellaneous stuff. With much of the gear list the same, packing for this trip was relatively easy. I had pulled out my list, updated it with the new tent and cook set, and checked everything off. Yan just followed my list and added her gear. Except for the sleeping bag and backpack, she had pretty much everything from before, ready to go. Working with the list and a small kitchen scale, we had gotten each of our pack’s base weight to less than 20 lbs.

The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons meeting took place in beautiful Eugene this year. One of the highlights of the meeting was Bernard Chazelle’s lecture on Bach’s life and music. This is especially fitting for this meeting, since this is where the Oregon Bach Festival takes place. Outside of…

This Fourth of July picnic turned out to be a busy one, between grilling everything and being on call. At least I got to meet everyone, have dinner, and take some after-sunset pictures. From our vantage point, we counted at least fifteen different fireworks shows throughout the valley, from east…

The week in Providence started out with the Emerging Leaders Forum and the Resident Leadership Forum. I chaired this year’s program, along with Bob Hart. Another highlight from this year’s meeting: Gary Botimer was inducted into AOA. Learning about the city of Providence was fascinating, especially after touring Roger Williams’s…

It’s now a little over a month since our lavender-colored wedding. With the Highland Springs Resort putting together a party in celebration of lavender, this is the perfect time to get together with the bridesmaids once again. The day is sweltering, but once under the shade at the Lavender Festival,…

The last morning in Kauai was also another lazy one. The previous evening at the market, we had seen some sea asparagus and decided to try it. Along with egg muffins, we have sautéed sea asparagus—crunchy but very salty. Our first stop is the nearby Opa‘ekaka Falls. Across the street,…

Today will be an exploration of the southern part of the island. After a lazy breakfast, we find a seal on the beach. A sign describes this tagged individual that looks withered. She had just given birth and is here to rest. Then, we drive down to Po‘ipu. Snorkeling is…

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Text for Thought

Colossians 3:
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.